Collapsible boat



Nov. M, 1950 M. N. STANLEY COLLAPSIBLE BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 frame 7M0? Nov. 14, 1950 STANLEY 2,529,745

CQLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Aug. 4, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Makolnz A]; 62375? JV @M aligns Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Malcolm N. Stanley, Newton, Mass.

Application August 4, 1949, Serial No. 108,462

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fabric covered boats of the type which may be collapsed or folded like an umbrella. The umbrella-type collapsible boat involves a unitary construction including a staff or post to which are hinged ribs for stretching and shaping the fabric covering of the boat. Braces, under compression between the post and the ribs hold the ribs in an expanded position. Such a boat may be instantly expanded or collapsed without disassembly of its parts and is therefore to be distinguished from collapsible kayaks or fold-boats having several parts which must be connected in assembling the boat. Despite the quick folding properties of the umbrella type boat it is usually limited to a round shape in which the ribs and the braces respectively are of the same length. In contrast an elongate boat is safer to propel and easier to steer, and allows more room and comfort for the boatman. However, if the ribs of an umbrella-type, boat are lengthened to provide an elongate construction without lengthening the braces unequal stresses are placed on the braces. n the other hand if the braces are lengthened proportionally to the ribs the longer braces will not allow the boat to be completel folded.

The objects of the present invention therefore are to provide an umbrella type of boatin which the ribs and braces are properly proportioned for uniform stress and durable construction, which may be quickly and easily folded, and which is economical to manufacture.

Other objects are to provide simple mountings for a seat and for oarlocks. A further object is to provide a construction with water-tight spaces so that the boat if swamped may act as a life preserver for the user.

In a broad aspect the invention involves the combination of an upright post similar to the staff of an umbrella, ribs for forming the framework on which the fabric cover of the boat is to be mounted. the ribs being hingedly connected at the bottom of the post, two or more bracecompressing members slidable on the post independently of each other and capable of being locked thereto, and a plurality of braces of different lengths each hingedly connected at one end intermediate the ends of a rib and at the other end to a sliding member, all braces of the same lengths being connected to a common sliding member, whereby the ribs and braces may be folded from an open position in which they provide a framework forthe boat to a collapsed position adjacent to the upright post, the longer braces and the ribs to which they are attached folding independently of the shorter braces and ribs and not limited by the length of the shorter braces. Preferably the ribs are of different lengths to form an elongate framework for the boat, and the length of the braces is proportional to the length of the rib to which they are respec- 2 tively attached so that when the ribs are in open position substantially the same stress is placed on each brace.

A latching device may be employed for securing the sliding brace-compressing members to the upper end of the post when the ribs are in open position. The latching device may be fast to the upper ring or may be disconnected. In the latter case a seat for the boatman may be attached to the latching device, so that the seat and the device may be removed for compact folding of the boat. Preferably the movable members are rings coaxial with the post and movable axially thereof. If desired the ribs may be divided into two groups, a longitudinally extending group of long ribs and a generally transverse groupof shorter ribs and an upper and lower ring may be provided for attachment to two groups of long and short braces respectively.

In a more specific aspect the ribs and braces are formed from light metal hollow tubes, such as aluminum or magnesium alloy tubing. The tubular ribs and braces may be sealed at their ends by suitable sealing means to provide water tight spaces between the sealing means. In addition the upwardly directed ends of the ribs at the gunwales of the boat may be designed to receive the pivot pin of an oarlock without adding to the weight or structure of the boat.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawin s in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of the boat;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation; I I Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the boat folded;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the boat partially folded;

Fig. '7 is a section on line 1-! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section online 88 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is asection on line 9-9 of Fig. 1; and.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section like'Fig. 9.

In the particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, the boat comprises a waterproof canvas cover I, ribs 2 and 3, braces '4 and 6, a central upright shaft 1 and rings 6 and 9. A seat H is mounted above the upper ring 8 and oarlocks l2 are attached at the end of the ribs 2 or 3. On part of the bottom of the boat a reinforcing canvas layer 33 is secured over ribs 2 and 3 by stitching 32.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 6 the hollow tubes or ribs 2 and 3 are pivotally attached at their inner ends to a block [3 by pins l4 and are curved upwardly at their outer ends to form a framework for the sides of the boat. The braces 4 and 6 are pivotally attached at their upper ends by lugs IE to the upper and lower rings 8 and 9 respectively, and at their lower ends to clips [6 3 which are fast to the ribs 2 and 3. The outer ends of the ribs 2 and 3 engage pockets I1 in a hem 18 at the upper edge of the canvas covering I (Fig. 8).

The ribs and braces are conveniently formed by bending aluminum alloy tubing to the desired curve. Near each end of the tubular ribs and braces a cork plug 26 is inserted to form a watertight seal for the air space between the plugs (Figs. 6, '7 and 9). Tubing with an inside diameter of inches used in a boat approximately four feet by six feet provides a buoyancy of approximately 50 pounds, if so sealed is adequate to support the average boatman above water if the boat is swamped. At the same time such a tubular construction aifords a durable boat of approximately twenty-five pounds weight.

At the ends of certain of the tubular ribs 2 and 3 a space is provided above the cork plug 26 into which the pin 10 of the oarlock 12 may be inserted, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In this case a grommet 3| is fixed in a hole at the fold of the canvas hem [8, the grommet being located above the open end of a rib 2 or 3. The grommet prevents undue wearing of the canvas against the oarlock [2, its pin 10 or the end of the rib 2 or 3, and serves to hold the canvas cover in a fixed position relative to the ribs. In case oarlocks are not to be inserted in the open end of the ribs 2 or 3 a wooden plug 2'! is inserted therein so that its end extends outside the rib and prevents wearing of the hem 18 of the canvas (Figs. 4 and 7). Though not required, a strengthening cable 29 may be passed through a hole 28 in the extended portion of plug 21 as shown in Fig. '7, and as shown in Fig. 8 inside the hem I?) at the periphery of canvas I.

To open the boat from the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3 to the expanded position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rings 8 and 9 are moved downwardly thereby expanding the ribs and braces through the intermediate position of Fig. 6 to the expanded position of Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the rings are moved and held downward and the ribs held in expanded position by the interengagement of a clip 23 mounted on the post! and a collar 19 which telescopes over the post i. The clip 23 has at its upper end a catch 24 designed to engage a slot 22 (Fig. 6) in the collar 19. A spring 25 causes the clip to hold the catch in engagement.

The collar [0 may be fixed to the detachable seat l I as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or to the upper ring 8, as shown in Fig. 6. In the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5, the collar and the seat may be removed from the rest of the boat structure so that the boat may be more compactly collapsed. In expanding the boat the collar is inserted through openings 29 and 2! in rings 9 and 8 respectively, and thence over the post I. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the collar is fixed to the under side of ring 8, the collar passing through opening 20 only.

According to this invention the longer ribs 2 are disposed generally longitudinally of the boat and the shorter ribs 3 are disposed generally transversely. The length of the longitudinal braces 4, which are attached to the longer ribs 2 and the length of the transverse braces 6, attached to the shorter ribs 3 is in each case proportional to the length of the rib, the group of ribs 2 all being substantially of the same length, and the group of ribs 3 being substantially of the same shorter length. As shown in Fig. 6 when the catch 24 is removed from the notch 22 the two rings 8 and 9 are free to move upwardly along the axis of the shaft 1 independently of each other so that the ribs 2 and 3 and the braces 4 and 6 fold toward the axis of the shaft. If the braces 4 and 6 were attached at the upper end to the ring 8 only it is apparent that the ring could be elevated only to the extent limited by the length of the ribs 3 between the block I3 and the clips [6 plus the length of the shorter braces 6. Since this distance would be shorter than the corresponding dimension on the longer ribs 2 and braces 4, the ribs 2 would be prevented from moving through a full folding angle and the closed boat would not be compact. However, owing to the fact that according to this invention the long braces 4 and the short braces 6 are attached to separate rings 8 and 9 respectively, the two groups of ribs 2 and 3 may be folded independently of each other to a position close to the axis of shaft 1 in which position the boat is folded in the compact form shown in Fig. 3. It can be seen that this invention also allows the use of shorter ribs at each side of the boat thus providing more free space for movement about the boat and placing of tackle and supply boxes and additional passengers.

Characteristic features of the invention consist in that the braces meet the ribs at a fairly large angle, preferably in the neighborhood of half a right angle, and the upper ends of the braces are spaced outwardly from the post a considerable distance. Thus the components of force lengthwise of the braces, due to the upward pressure of the water, are much less than they would be if the braces met the ribs at an acute angle at their outer ends and extended all the way to the post at the inner ends as in the case of an umbrella.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of 'illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In a collapsible boat the combination of a flexible skin for the boat, a plurality of light metal, hollow tubes interconnected to form a framework for the skin, at least one of said tubes being disposed with its open outer end upwardly directed at the gunwale of the boat, a folded portion at the periphery of the skin covering said end and a grommet secured in the folded portion above said end to admit the pivot pin of an oarlock thereto, thereby providing a receptacle for the oarlock so that the oarlock serves to hold the skin in a fixed position relative to the framework.

MALCOLM N. STANLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 200,664 Osgood Feb. 26, 1878 820,261 Russell May 8, 1906 927,341 Ettinger July 6, 1909 1,180,305 McDermott Apr. 25, 1916 1,589,299 Metzger June 15, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 29,101 Great Britain of 1910 

